HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL – January 23, 2013 – Five collision industry members have joined the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s Industry Leadership Circle through their $1000+ personal contributions to the organization. Tim Adelmann of ABRA Auto Body & Glass; Stacy Bartnik of CARSTAR; Eric Bickett founder of Fix Auto; Chris Northup of General Distribution Consultants; and Michael Minutillo of Master Auto Body all have donated $1000 or more to the organization. Monetary donations to the Collision Repair Education Foundation assist in the organization’s efforts to support secondary and post-secondary collision repair students and their school’s collision programs.
Collision Repair Education Foundation Executive Director Clark Plucinski noted, “I applaud these industry members for their support and joining an exclusive list of individual, high level contributors. The Collision Repair Education Foundation has gone from providing $300,000 in support in 2009 to over $10 million since then and this has been possible only through our supporters. Through the collision industry coming together and supporting its future workforce can we create the best educational opportunities for these students. As the Collision Repair Education Foundation is a full-time staff of three and solely exists through the support of monetary and in-kind product donations, I invite and challenge other industry members to follow the lead of these members in considering a tax-deductible donation to the organization.”
Tim Adelmann Executive Vice President of ABRA Auto Body & Glass noted, “As a company ABRA has supported the Collision Repair Education Foundation with collision student scholarships for years. I felt a personal contribution was appropriate as the Education Foundation supports vo-tech and students that are entering into this great repair industry. It’s up to all of us to encourage and support the entry level – next generation of professional collision repairers that will fuel the repair industry of the future.”
Stacy Bartnik, CARSTAR Vice President of Field Services, noted, “The education provided by secondary and post-secondary schools through their collision program is key to the future of our industry and the quality of our technicians. Employees are an asset in any business, and by supporting the Collision Repair Education Foundation we are supporting an important asset in our industry and future.”
Michael Minutillo, I-CAR Instructor and owner of Master Auto Body, has personally donated over $13,000 to the Education Foundation since 2008 by donating all of his I-CAR instructor pay. He noted, “I love to donate to the Education Foundation! Being an I-CAR instructor allows me a first hand view of how technical information affects students. They truly appreciate learning the correct way to repair today’s complicated vehicles and strive to be the best in their field. After experiencing this I thought everyone wanting this knowledge should have the opportunity and it gives me great pleasure knowing I might be a small part of the Foundation’s efforts with the future industry members. Thank you for all the Foundation does to assist collision school programs and their students.”
Industry members looking to make tax-deductible contributions to the Collision Repair Education Foundation can do so online or contact Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at 847.463.5244. For additional information about the organization, visit www.CollisionEducationFoundation.org.
